North Carolina grows a variety of specialty crops, and tomatoes are one of the most popular specialty crops grown here. The majority of the tomatoes grown in North Carolina are grown for the fresh market, meaning they go directly to consumers from roadside stands, farmers markets and grocery stores, rather than for processing. Fresh tomatoes … Read more
2025 marks the 100th volume of the Agricultural Review, the free newspaper published by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. To celebrate, we’re taking a journey back in time. We’re digging out some old papers, dusting off their pages and looking back at what has happened in agriculture in the last 99 years. … Read more
Many North Carolinians may know Craig LeHoullier simply as “the Tomato Man” or maybe “the North Carolina Tomato Man” if they’re being specific. …but he never even ate a tomato until he was a teenager. It’s an odd fact in a love affair that certainly didn’t begin with love at first sight. That love affair … Read more
Rain continues to be a challenge this growing season according to N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ regional agronomists. Regional agronomists located across the state work individually with farmers to help troubleshoot problems and increase crop production. They are the department’s crop advisors. Regional agronomists work with individual farmers to provide guidance on crop … Read more
Now that tomato season is underway and they’re popping up in your local farmers market, it’s time to get creative with summer recipes. While the classic tomato sandwich never gets old, Zane Hedgecock, the N.C. Department of Agriculture chief of staff, has a unique twist on the traditional favorite to share. North Carolina ranks seventh … Read more
Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “A Soybean Surge Makes Trump’s Trade War Look Deceptively Good,” WRAL: President Donald Trump’s trade war is expected to temporarily bolster U.S. economic growth, in part because Beijing tried to … Read more
Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “Jury awards hog farm neighbors $50 million,” The News & Observer: A North Carolina jury awarded $50 million to neighbors of a 15,000-hog farm in Eastern North Carolina in a … Read more
Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “Former Mebanite envisions community farm,” Burlington Times News: Imagine a sustainable farm that offers programs for veterans, the homeless and felons, classes on agriculture, cheesemaking, canning, animal care, and an … Read more
WRAL reporter Brian Shrader and our own Lisa Prince feature seasonal recipes in their weekly Local Dish Cooking segment. Below, Brian and Lisa feature recipes starring a favorite of summertime meals – the tomato. Check out your local farmers market for an abundant selection of sun-kissed tomatoes. Lisa advises to make sure your ingredients are … Read more
Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. “Will dicamba technology remain available in Southeast?” Southeast Farm Press: Despite all the issues of dicamba drift that have plagued the Mid-South this year, Alan York hopes the new technology … Read more
